Commentary: Independent agencies face more competition in 2013

Competition from retirement-focused agency owners, agencies backed by a network or franchiser, and retail-based insurance sales will be among the key challenges confronting independent agencies in 2013, writes Alan Shulman, publisher of the Agency Ideas newsletter. Shulman also warns of increased competition from multi-channel carriers and online marketers, and he recommends that independent agencies should respond by stepping up their efforts to compete and innovate.